>>the white dove
>>Tetouan in history
>>Tetouan, Morocco's Andalusian City
>>Tetouan, a city of culture
>>the Medina of the Seven Gates
>>Zaouïa Sidi Ali Baraka
>>Tetouan, Museum of Morocco
>>Tetouan, seaside resort
>>Casbah Sidi al Mandri
 

>>Lebbadi Palace
>>Great Mosque
>> Mtamar Silo
>>Tanneries
>>Bab Okla
>>Rue Al-Mokadem
>>Medersa Loukach
>>Mosque Erzini

The meeting place of many peoples, religions and cultures, Tetouan is a welcoming city, and mixture of cultures and colors, located near the Mediterranean coast.

The white dove for Arab poets, the "daughter of Grenada" or the "little Jerusalem" for others, Tetouan is the meeting place of several peoples, religions, and cultures: Andalusian, Ottoman, local and European. For Mohammed Abdelkhalaq Torres, Tetouan is a city that leaves no one indifferent. Absolutely unique for its diversity, the origins of its founders and present-day inhabitants. They hark from the Mudejares, Moors and Safardic Jews from the Iberian Peninsula mixed in with the people of the Rif and Arabs. The contribution of Andalusian cultures and its merger with the local culture resulted in a unique blend represented by this city.

Tetouan assimilated Andalusian architecture as can be seen in its walls, the Kasbah, small dwellings and palaces (with patios, fountains and gardens), minarets, mausoleums and funduks. Over time, it has preserved an Andalusian soul making it the most Hispano-Moresque of the cities of Morocco. The medina of Tetouan was named world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1997 .

For many historians the origins of the city go back to the beginnings of time. Objects excavated date from the 3rd century B.C. and come from the ancient city of Tamuda, two kilometers from the present-day city on the river Martil. According to Mhammad Benaboud, a Tetouan historian and President of the Tetouan Asmir Association, Tetouan is mentioned in available sources starting the 11th century by Andalusian geographer Abou Ubayd Al-Bakri. European sources mention it as being the first Moroccan port having trade relations with Catalan merchants. In times of the Almohads in the 12th century, the city is cited in Moroccan sources. Destroyed in the 15th century by the Portuguese who then occupied most Moroccan ports, Tetouan disappeared from history.

The reconstruction of Tetouan at the end of the 15th century by Grenada-born Ali Al- Mandadri was to determine the history of the city during the entire 15th century.

In 1492 the fall of Grenada meant the expelling from the south of Spain of thousands of Muslim emigrants who set up home in the ruins of the Tetouan. It then emerged from its ashes and experienced tremendous development. "Given the Iberian occupation of ports, the great European trade movement with Morocco in the 17th and 18th centuries, had its principal outlet in Tetouan. The Tetouan Jewish community played a crucial role. Thanks to an excellent network of correspondents around the Mediterranean (relatives, associates and partners) it sparked trade relations with Spain, Italy and England" explains Mhammad Benaboud. Its maritime and trading links with countries of the Mediterranean basin and trade with the south via Fez marked the socio-economic life of its inhabitants in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Under thereign of Moulay Ismaïl in the 18th century, Tetouan saw renewed economic development attributable to its many trading ties with the West. Mediterranean by its position, Andalusian by its population and original traditions, it has its place among cultural cities where erudites live and literature and the arts abound. This city was also a bridge between the Iberian Peninsula and inner Morocco. The Andalusian immigrants poured into Tetouan in three successive waves en route toward other cities like Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Salé. All Moroccan trade with Europe in the 18th century went through Tetouan as one of Morocco's major ports. After Algiers fell into the hands of the French in 1830, Tetouan began to take in Algerian immigrants, recognized as behind the Ottoman influence in Tetouan. This influence is still apparent in conjunction with certain customs and garments of Tetouan. The 19th century was one of decadence for Tetouan like for all of Morocco. This Spanish Moroccan war of 1859 brought occupation of the city by the Spanish for two years, seriously weakening the city.

In the 20th century, Tetouan the capital of the Spanish Protectorate, enjoyed a new political, economic and cultural rebirth.

Since the 12th century, the cultural life of Tetouan has been marked by Sufi, literary and intellectual personages such as Abdelkader Tabbine and Sidi Abdellah Al-Fakhar (12th century), Sidi Ali Ben Raissoun (18th century), Sidi Mogamed Al-Harraq (19th century). The 20th century was also marked by many innovators such as Sidi Mohamed Afilal, Mohamed Akhrif, historian Mohamed Daoud, artist Adessadak Cheqara and nationalists such as Abdelhalaq Torres, Moustapha Mdouri and M'hamed Ahmed Benaboud.

To enter the medina and cross over its ramparts, one can choose seven wonderfully decorated gates. Inside there are tiny winding streets, buildings decorated with ceramic tiles and graced with wrought iron balconies, in addition to whitewashed houses in the great Spanish tradition. A must is the great palace of the Khalifat, built in the 18th century under the reign of Moulay Ismaïl, recalling Andalusia. Tetouan also contains spacious, teeming suks. In the "El Fouki an Al-Houte suks merchants and craftsmen display their wares. In these lively markets one encounters peasant women clad in red and white striped "mendils" as well as city dwellers in white djeballas or western dress. Ain Bournane offers a panoramic view and don't forget to go to "Riad al Ochak" (lovers' garden) to enjoy the calm and coolness of this little café in the hollow of a grotto.

Bab Okla, one of the seven gates of the medina, is located east of the city enclosure in front of the Ecole des Arts et Métiers. Built about half way into the 16th century, for a long time it was known under the name of "Sea Gate" because it gave access to the road leading to the village of Martil on the Mediterranean coast.

This old dwelling dates from the 19th century and belongs to the Pasha of the city and is one of the most beautiful and best preserved of the palaces of those times. Built on a slope, the palace is erected on a square 25 m to the side, and has two entrances.

The first one is flush and next to a street one level down, the second one opens up onto a landing with the stairway, and overlooks a street one level up. Today, this old palace has been transformed into a restaurant, or festive hall used for special occasions.

Built upon the orders of Sultan Moulay Slimane in 1808, near the Mellah al-Bali, the former Jewish quarter, it required the departure of the Jewish community which left to set itself up in the gardens of the Sultan's palace. This religious monument served at once, as place of prayer and Friday sermons, and venue for theological teaching.

One of the features of Tetouan is that it is built on a limestone soil making up a genuine network of cavities and underground galleries crossing through the city from east to west. In these cavities silos were constructed in the 16th century, at the time of the city's reconstruction. These prisons were reserved for the some 30000 slaves and Christian captives who contributed to the rebuilding of the city. This underground jail located near the Sidi Al-Mandri Casbah had three compartments where the light came in through small apertures covered with iron grids. The prisoners slid in by means of a rope and through these grids the guards could keep watch over them. At the end of the 18th century, Sultan Moulay Slimane ordered the release of all the prisoners and the silos were cleared out. Since those days they have remained unused.

Established in the north of the medina in the early 16th century, and built against the city wall, the tanneries offer longevity to an ancestral tradition of craft. In "L" shape, this open sky space has two entrances. The first one overlooking the craftsmen quarter is for delivery to the adjoining workshops, the second opens out onto Bab al-Kebir gate so the peasants can directly send in raw materials to the tanners.

Dating from the early 18th century, this zaouia is the home of the great erudite and writer Sidi Ali Baraka. The monument is characteristic through the decoration of the main entrance, that some ascribe to a "metropolitan" influence, probably originating from the court of Meknes

Named after the Tetouan war leader, Al-Mokadem Abou al- Abbas Ahmed Ibn Aïssa Naqsis, this street, running up to Souk al-Foqui Square and to Gharsa al-Kebira Square, was opened in the 17th century. Its edifices, variety of light, the whiteness of the wall and ground pavement make this street and adjacent ones a group marking the true urban character of Tetouan.

This edifice was intended to house students coming to Tetouan for their secondary education. The medersa was built in en 1171/1758 upon orders from Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ibn Abdallah and Caïd Omar Loukach.

This monument dating from the medieval period was built in the 15th century by a native of Grenada Sidi al-Mandri. This warrior of the army of Ibn al-Ahmar, made use of Christian captives captured during expeditions against Sebta (Ceuta), to build this monumental Casbah. Of the initial fortress only the external walls and bastions remain.

Built in the oldest part of town, this mosque is the last remnant of those times. It was built, say the historians, in 1591 by one of the Andalusian families set up in Tetouan at the end of the 15th century.

Tetouan is the home of many museums, the witnesses of the prestigious times of the city and Morocco.

School of Traditional Arts and Crafts
Dar San'aa or the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts was created in 1916 for preserving the Arabo-Andalusian heritage and the various artistic expressions that have marked Tetouan for many centuries. There, craftsmen work wood, pottery, iron, ceramic tiles, and make carpets in the same way as their 18 Destination Tangier - Tetouan 2006 TETOUAN , THE WHITE DOVE ancestors four hundred years ago. Several of the crafts still taught here have been handed down over the centuries to Tetouan.

Ethnographic Museum
Founded in 1928, this museum was first known as « Muslim house » or « Museum of Indigenous Art » with headquarters at Bennouna house (Zanqat Al Moqaddam). From there it was transferred to one of the bastions of the Tetouan wall at Bab Al Oqla. Transformed into a museum in 1948, the old 19th century fortress of Sultan Moulay Abderrahman, is the guardian of popular t r a d i t i o n s . It is an honest to goodness jewel showing all aspects of daily traditional life in Tetouan. This museum conserves the arts, cuisine, traditional garb, jewelry, arms and music of the city.

Archeological Museum
Created in 1939, this museum displays the findings of prehistoric and pre Islamic sites of the Morocco's North, including Lixus. In addition to the beautiful ceramic tiles reconstituted there, this museum presents a lovely collection of Roman coins statues of goddesses and numismatic collections of the Punic period. Morocco's protohistory is represented by the reconstitution of the famous Mzoura Cromlech (Assilah). The museum also houses a library of over 60.000 volumes devoted to the conservation of North African literature.

For lovers of the sea sideala rgese lectIon of resorts is for the takIng just a fewkms from the city . Taking the road to Sebta several beaches of golden sand abound;

Martill : just 10 kilometers from Tetouan, a very cosmopolitan seaside resort, where the living is easy, includes fine, warm sand and restaurants at the water's edge. Not to be forgotten are the evenings when everyone goes out to enjoy the lovely coolness of the n i g h t . Cabo Negro : just 14 Km from Tetouan for accommodating visitors and provide a meeting place at the Cabo Negro Golf Course with 18 holes and Clubhouse .

M'dIiq (Fist hrer man 's vIil lage) : just 17 km from Tetouan between Cabo Negro and the first mountain sides of the Rif and the Mediterranean, M'diq offers visitors the tranquility, relaxation and pleasant spot to get away from it all.

In the bay of M'diq, the sea is ideal for water sports, particularly wind surfing, in additional to hiking and horseback riding. During the season, the region is sought-after for hunting.

Kablila : just 20 km from Tetouan, there is a 27 hectare tourist complex and 1 kilometer of beach: 4-star Hotel / Residence / shops / pleasure boat port.

Marina Smir : just 24 km from Tetouan, there is a tourist complex with: Hotel / Thalassotherapy Institute / Residence / Shopping Center / Pleasure boat harbor. The seaside resorts of Restinga Smir leading up to the city of Fnideq.

area are found the largest pleasure boat harbors in Morocco

Kabila Marina : 250 Rings / Shopping Center / Ready-to- Wear shops / Specialty restaurant on the beach / Pizzeria on the beach / café / tapa bar

Marina Smir : 450 Rings / Shopping Center / Specialty restaurants / cafés / bars.

Pleasure boat harbor of M'diiq : 50 rings / Royal underwater diving Club and seafood specialty restaurant.